UNIT 4

CHAPTER 10

Public policy
Meaning, Nature and Importance

shirisha k reddy
(21EPS109)
Introduction
• The study of public policy acquired a great deal of importance during the
second half of the last century. However, a few writers on public policy suggest
that modern policy studies began in the early 1920s. The classic literature that
laid foundation of policy studies dates back to the year 1950 with Harlod
Lasswell’s call for the development distinctive policy science.
• Theoretically speaking, Public policy is formulated in the present, based on the
past, with the object of improving the society’s future. As a social science, it
draws on the humanities, and political science in particular for its
development.
• According to Thomas Dye a leading scholar of political analysis (1978), in the
past, study of public policy was dominated by researchers and students of
political science who largely concentrated on the institutional structure and
philosophical justification of the government.
Intro…….
• Dye further observes that of late the focus of political science
has been shifting to public policy – “to the description and
explanation of the causes and consequences of government
activity”
• Presently studies on public policy have been mainly dominated
by scholars of policy analysis and public administration and
have tended to concentrate more on the content of policy, the
process of its formulation and its implementation.
• However, considerable debate remains over whether there is
one coherent set of principles that govern the study and
understanding of the public policy process.
Meaning of public policy
• Idea of public and policy
• In the first place, it is important to understand the term ‘public’. We often use
such terms as ‘public interest’, ‘public sector’, ‘public opinion’, and so on.
Therefore, ‘Public Policy’ has to do with those spheres which are labelled as
‘public’, as opposed to spheres involving ‘private’.
• Like the idea of ‘public’ the idea of ‘policy’ is also not precisely defined. Policy
denotes, among other things, ‘guidance for action’.
• Public policies are as old as governments. Whatever be the form, oligarchy,
monarchy, tyranny, democracy etc., - whenever and wherever governments
have existed, public policies have been formulated and implemented. To cope
with the varied problems and demands of the people the government has to
make many policies, these policies are called public policies.
Cont…..
• To cope with the varied problems and demands of the people the
government has to make many policies, these policies are called
public policies.
• It can also be said that public policy formulation and implementation
involves a well planned pattern or course of activity. It requires a
thoroughly close knit relation and interaction between the important
governmental agencies viz., the political executive, legislature,
bureaucracy and judiciary.
• Thus, Public policy is an area which had to do with those spheres
which are labeled as public.
Defining public policy
• The concept of public policy presupposes that there is a domain of
organized life which is not private or purely individual, but held in
common.
• The term policy is defined in different ways by writers on public policy.
• David Easton defines policy as the ‘outputs’ of the political system and
public policy as ‘the authoritative allocation of values for the whole
society” (Easton, 1953).
• Henry defines public policy as “a course of action adopted and pursued
by government” (Henry, 2012).
• To Dye, “public policy is whatever governments choose to do or not to
do”.
Cont…..
• Robert EyeStone terms public policy as "the relationship of government
unit to its environment”.
• Therefore, public policies are the policies adopted and implemented by
government bodies and officials.
Nature of public policy
• Public Policy is made by the government in response to the public problems
but it is implemented by both government and non-government actors. For
understanding public policy, it is important to analyze its nature
• Besides each level of government- central, State and local. There are
“megapolicies”. General guidelines to be followed by all specific policies are
termed as megapolicies.
• Public Policies are goal oriented.
Public policies are formulated and implemented in order to attain the
objectives which the government has in view for the ultimate benefit of the
masses in general. These policies clearly spell out the programmes of
government.
Nature…
• Public policy is the outcome of the government's collective actions.
It means that it is a pattern or course of activity or' the governmental officials
and actors in a collective sense than being termed as their discrete and
segregated decisions.
• Public policy is what the government actually decides or chooses to do.
It is the relationship of the government units to the specific field of political
environment in a given administrative system. It can take a variety of forms like
law, ordinances, court decisions, executive orders, decisions etc.
• Public policy is may be either positive or negative
In the sense that it depicts the concern of the government 'and involves its
action to a particular problem on which the policy is made. It has the sanction
of law and authority behind it. Negatively, it involves a decisions by the
governmental officials regarding not taking any action on a particular issue.
Related concepts….
• The nature of policy as a purposive course of action can be better
understood if it is compared with related concepts and terms
• Decisions, non decisions and policy making
• Policies, goals and policy goals
• Planning, policy making and policy design
• Policy analysis and policy advocacy
• Policy management and policy analysis
• Policy inputs, policy outputs and policy outcomes
• Comparative public policy
Importance of public policy
• Public policy is an important area of government activity. It is an area which
has to do with those spheres which are so labelled as pubic.
• public policies have important purposes to serve in the democratic society.
Following are some of reasons advanced in favour of the study of public
policy.
• Theoretical and Scientific Reasons
Anderson for instance, argues that one studies public policy so that one can
know more about the process, both in pursuit of knowledge to pure science and
the practitioner orientation to applied science. It enables one to gain greater
knowledge and understanding of the causes and consequences of policy
decisions. Public policy may be regarded as either a dependent or an
independent variable.
Continued..
Not only this, an understanding of the causes and consequences of
public policy helps us to apply scientific knowledge to the solution for
practical social problems.
• Political and Administrative Reasons
There are also political reasons for studying policy. People with political
goals study public policy to learn how to advance their preferred policy
alternatives.
The knowledge which they have acquired through study of policy
analysis will enable the administration to engage in such issues as are of
public importance and are concerned with the transformation of values
into public-making.
Cont……
• Representing Powerful Approach for Improving Economic and Social
System
Public policy, as we have analyzed, is an important component of the
democratic government and its focus is on the public and its problems.
It is an area which has to do with the protection and enhancement of
the public interest. The major function and role of public policy is to
shape the society for its betterment. Wide ranging policies were
formulated in the areas of socio-economic development.
Cont…..
• A Tool for Shaping Future
Public policy as a field is an important mechanism for shaping the future. It
is conditioned by the past and concerned with shaping the future for
societal betterment.
The study of the past is very important as it helps in explaining the present
policy system. The past policies perpetuate themselves into present and
future policies.
The study of public policy is of vital importance even for the present, as it
deals with defining policy problems. Thus, present policy-making can be
thought of as a problem-solving method, realising that the definition of the
alternatives is the supreme instrument of power.
Conclusion…
• The study of public policy , although rooted in the study of political science,
is a recent innovation. The purpose of the study of public policy is to
understand the problems of the people and to provide insights into a range
of policy alternatives to deal with the matter of public concern.
• To wind up this discussion, it can be noted that the field of public policy has
assumed considerable importance in response to the increasing complexity
of the society. It is concerned not only with the description and explanation
of the causes and consequences of government activity, but also with the
development of scientific knowledge about the forces shaping the public
policy. The study of public policy helps us understand the social ills of the
subject under study.
• Public policy is an important mechanism for moving a social system from
the past to the future.
.

Thank you